History and Mission

Established July 2008, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is charged with creating
a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable learning and working community at Kennesaw State
University. This mission encompasses responsibility for university-wide climate assessment,
diversity and inclusion action planning, academic support services, and curricular
and co-curricular programming. The Office actualizes this mission through collaborating
with faculty, staff, students, and other university stakeholders; seeding new initiatives
within and across various departments and units; providing consultation, guidance,
and support; and, coordinating various university initiatives.

The Office has as its priority documented progress toward the goals and objectives
outlined in the 2012-2017 Kennesaw State University Strategic Plan:

Goal 1: Promote excellence and innovation in education through teaching, supervising, and
mentoring students; research, creative activity, and scholarship; and professional
service;

Goal 2: Improve recruitment, retention, progression, and graduation rates (RRPG) in accord
with the Complete College Georgia initiative, while continually increasing the quality,
breadth, and relevance of academic and co-curricular programs; and,

Accordingly, the Office engages in activities that 1) prepare our students, faculty,
and staff to achieve professionally and personally in a state, nation, and world that
is increasingly diverse and interconnected; 2) increase the recruitment, retention,
progression, and graduation of all qualified students with a particular focus on the
success of those who have been underserved in the past; and, 3) recruit, retain, and
promote an increasingly diverse faculty and staff.

In an effort to achieve these shared goals, the Office provides support to Kennesaw
State University’s six Presidential Commissions: Disability Strategies and Resources;
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Questioning Initiatives; Gender
and Work-Life Issues; Racial and Ethnic Dialogue; Sustainability; and, Veterans’ Affairs.
These six bodies are responsible for strategic initiatives, communications, and programming.
The Presidential Commissions and Office collaborate on the annual Presidential Diversity
Awards. In addition, the Office is engaged in key collaborative partnerships with
the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Student Affairs,
nine college deans, three senates, and student leaders and governance bodies from
across campus.